Process of making insecticides.



No. 764,404. I PATENTED JULY 5, 1904. S .T. P. WICKERSHAM, C. W. TABLER& J. W. STEWART.

PROCESS OF MAKING INSECTICIDES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13, 1904.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904;

PAT NT 'OFFICE;

JOSEPH P. l/VICKERSHAM, CLIFFORD W. TABLER, AND JOHN IV. STEl/VAPJI, OFMARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

PROCESS OF MAKING INSECTICIDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,404, dated July 5,1904.

Application filed April 18, 1904. Serial No. 202,956. (No specimens.)

T0 rrZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J osnrn P. WVIeKnn- SI-IAM, CLIFFORD W. TABLER, andJOHN W. STEWART, citizens of the United States, residing at Martinsburg,in the county of Berkeley and State of West Virginia, have invented newand useful Improvements in Processes of Making Insecticides, of whichthe following is a specification. I

This invention relates to a process of making an insecticide.

The insecticide hereinafter set forth in cludes in its composition lime,sulfur, salt, iron sulfate, and mercury. These elements may be of anydesirable proportions. Here inafter we will set forth certain quantitiesof the several ingredients that have been found wholly satisfactory. Byour process we are I enabled to concentrate these materials into arelatively small volume, by reason of which the product can be readilytransported and handled.

In our description of the process we will set forth, by weight, theamounts of the hereinbefore-mentioned ingredients in the production of agallon of the product. By mixing one gallon of such product withforty-nine gallons of water or approximately such an amount of water anarticle is'produced that is thoroughly effective for the exterminationof various insects. The mixture, in fact, is particularly advantageousfor the total eradication of the San Jose scale, which infests differentkinds of fruit-trees.

The mixture, consisting of one gallon of the product and the amount ofwater stated, may be sprayed or otherwise applied to the trees. In casea stronger solution is desired less water will be associated with saidproduct.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wehave illustrated a simple form of apparatus which can be effectivelyutilized for carrying out the process. Other apparatus, however, may beemployed in lieu of that shown and hereinafter described.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatussuch as that first mentioned with a portion thereof removed. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the lower section of the. apparatus. Fig. 3 isa'transversesection of 2.

Like characters refer to like parts in the several figures ofthe'drawings.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral 5 denotesa closed tank, vessel, or pan, the top .6 of which is removable. Saidtop is provided at suitable points with openings adapted to be closed bydoors, as 7 through which openings the different ingredients that are tocompose the product may be introduced into the tank. Upon the bottom ofthe tank 5 rests a steam-coil 8, into one terminal portion of whichsteam is introduced, the exhaust being carried out of the other terminalportion of the coil.

As will hereinafter appear, we subject the ingredients to agitation andfor this purpose show an agitator or mixer, as 9. Said agitator or mixeris represented as consisting of a blade vertically disposed and adaptedto be reciprocated in the casing for the purpose set forth. The blade isslotted, so that on the movement thereof the liquid can flow throughsuch slots therein and will not retard the free motion of said blade.The latter may be actuated in any desirable way. We have shown it asprovided with a projecting stem 10, adapt- I ed to extend through asuitable stuffing-box in one end of the tank or pan 5 and to beconnected with any suitable power-applying factor. The lower edge of theblade is serrated, the longitudinal portions of the piping 8 itting intothe spaces of the serrations.

The top 6 of the pan or tank is removable in order that the liquidcontents of said tank can be withdrawn. Centrally from the top theentering end of a worm 11 extends, the

delivery end of the worm leading into the said top near its junctionwith the body of the tank. The condensing-Worm 11 is surrounded at asuitable point in its length by a vessel 12, adapted to contain asuitable condensing agent, as water, which water or equivalent agent canbe supplied to the vessel at its top and carried off therefrom at thebottom through suitable piping. The steam or vapor arising from themixture in the tank 5 during l the action of the process passes into theworm or conduit 11 and is condensed therein, the condensate beingdelivered by the worm into the tank. In this way, as will hereinafter beobvious, we' obtain a concentrated or condensed solution.

Initially we slake twelve pounds of lime in water in the tank, steam ofthe proper temperature being admitted into the coil 8 in order to boilthe solution thus made. We then add water to the slaked limesufficient'to cover the same and stir in fifteen pounds of sulfur. Theslaked lime of course upon the-introduction of the sulfur is subjectedto a boiling action. Upon the mixture of thelime and sulfur the twoingredients are boiled for about half an hour. This boiling thoroughlyassociates the two materials. Their association is further aided by theaction of the agitator or mixer 9,'which at this point is being movedback and forth in the tank. At the expiration of the half-hour we add tothe mixture thus formed a solution containing approximately four poundsof salt. The salt is preferably added to the other ingredients insolution, for we find that by adding it to the mixture in the shape of asolution it will more readily associate with the lime and sulfur. Thesethree articles are then boiled for half an hour more, the agitationbeing continued in order to intimately amalgamate the severalconstituents. During the carrying out of the process up to this pointthere is of course steam generated in the pan. The steam enters theinlet or receiving end of the worm 11 and traverses the latter, being ofcourse condensed in the worm by the cooling agent in the vessel 12, thecondensate being discharged by the worm again into the vessel. After themixture of the several parts we add about five grams of iron sulfate andthen boil the several parts for ten minutes. At the expiration of thislatter period we add about one-half ounce of mercury and by the'actionof the agitator 9 thoroughly mix the other ingredients in the solutionwith the mercury. The mercury is added for the purpose of uniting thelime and sulfur into a soluble solution. During the carrying out of theprocess it will be understood that the steam generated in the tank iscondensed while in the worm 11, the condensate being delivered by theworm back into the tank, and that simultaneously the solution isagitated. After the mercury is mixed with the other ingredients thesupply of steam is cut off and the solution is permitted to cool. WVhencooled, sufficient time is permitted to elapse to insure the thoroughprecipitation of the solids in the solution, following which the liquidmay be drawn from the tank in any desirable way for example, bysiphoning.

It will be understood that the several ingredientsmay be introduced intothe openings in the hood or cover 6. By the process we assure thethorough association of the several substances and concentrate themixture into a powerful insecticide. We have set forth the amounts ofthe different parts, by weight, in making one gallonof the product.These amounts may of course be varied within certain limits. The gallonresulting from the process may be diluted with forty-nine gallons ofwater and, as stated, a powerful insecticide will be secured. By varyingthe amount of Water mixed with the product the strength of the finalsolution, or that which is put upon the trees, can be regulated. Thesaid insecticide may be applied in any desirable or convenient waysay byspraying. It has been found in practice thoroughly satisfactory for theextermination of various kinds of insects which thrive upon fruit-trees,especially that insect known as the San Jose scale.

1. A process consisting of slaking lime in a closed vessel, addingsulfur to the lime while in thevessel, simultaneously boiling the limeand sulfur while in the vessel, and subjecting the same to agitation,then adding a salt solution to'the mixture, then adding sulfate of ironand mercury to the mixture, then boiling and agitating the latter,removing the vapor arising from the boiled mixture, condensing thevapor, subsequently returning the condensate to the tank, and finallyallowing the solids in thesolution to precipitate to the bottom thereof.

2. A process consisting of introducing twelve pounds of lime into aclosed tank, slaking the lime while in the tank and adding waterthereto, introducing fifteen pounds of sulfur into said tank, thenboiling the mixture, then adding a solution containing four pounds ofsalt, then boiling the mixture and adding five grams of iron, thenadding mercury, then" boiling the mixture, subjecting the liquid to theaction of agitation while in the tank, removing the vapor from the tankduring the boiling, condensing the vapors, and resupplying the same ascondensate to the tank, and finally allowing the solids to precipitatein the solution.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH P. WICKERSHAM. CLIFFORD w. TABLER. JOHN w. STEWART.

Witnesses:

EDw. G. Cox, H. H. EMMERT.

